The sun is beautiful at the head of the winners of the Astrophotography Award – Agen BRILink and BRI – Agenbrilink.net

The Earth can only accommodate so many photographic subjects – but the universe is essentially infinite, and so is its beauty. The Astrophotography Award is a relatively new international competition that celebrates this art, and this year’s winners have been announced.

Now in its second year, AstroPrize attracts hundreds of participants from around the world. The work submitted was divided into four main categories: Space, Solar System, Astro Landscape, and Remote Imaging, and an overall winner for Astrophotographer of the Year was also awarded.

This year the award went to Australian photographer Phil Hart, for his stunning photograph of the sun’s corona during the solar eclipse in Exmouth, Western Australia, last year. The image captures a stream of charged particles streaming from the Sun, which are normally invisible because the brightness of the Sun itself drowns them out. They can only be seen during an eclipse.

“To me, it looks like a sunflower in the Exmouth sky,” Hart said in a statement. “The delicate ribbons of the sun’s crown curl over the bleak peaks.”

Participants are evaluated in a unique way. First, three specialist astrophotographers gave each image a score out of 100. Then, the 25 best images from each category will go to a special second round, where five astrophotographers will give points in a YouTube live stream, for exposure. From here, a winner and two runners-up will be awarded in each category, as well as an overall winner.

“This year’s competition featured some of the most impressive photography we’ve ever seen,” said Dr. asked Hill, one of the judges. “Phil Hart’s paintings are masterpieces of technique, creativity and passion, showing the faint details of the moon alongside the petal-like crowns of the sun.”

Other highlights included Leonard’s spectacular photo of Comet C/2021A1. Taken from Namibia by Gerald Rhemann, this image captures one of the most impressive comets of recent years, just months before it disintegrated.

See other winners and runners-up in our gallery, and to view the full list of honorable mentions, visit competition site.

Source: Astrophotography Award